The Military History Society of New South Wales Incorporated presents
Fate, Pre-Destination and the Mindset of Ancient and Modern Warriors
Western military tradition begins with the ancient Greeks. Within the writings of this culture are found some of the first recorded instances of physical and psychological reactions to the traumas of war. Yet despite this long span of precedent, how the warriors of both the ancient Greek world and those of modern societies have faced and dealt with these terrors is vastly different – and the ancient Greek warrior seems to have been much better conditioned to engage in a savage style of fighting which would seem totally foreign in the modern era. This is, in part, due to the nature of many of the different religious and socio-political parameters found within these two time periods. This presentation will discuss one of the main contributors which has helped both modern and ancient warriors account for the seemingly randomness of war – the concept of Fate
Chris Matthew a leading researcher in the study of ancient warfare whose work is highly regarded both internationally and nationally. The author of several books and numerous articles on this topic, in 2015 he was awarded the title of Honorary Associate by Macquarie University in recognition of my position as a leading professional in his field. His work has formed the basis of several documentaries (the eight-hour Australian documentary series The First War for the West, an episode on the ancient Spartans for the UK documentary series Ancient Black Ops, and the internationally award winning 300 Spartans: The Real Story) and radio interviews, and has resulted in him acting as a historical and creative consultant for the Australian Museum for their 2012/13 exhibition Alexander the Great – 2,000 Years of Treasures. He has also been engaged as a teacher of ancient history at several institutions across the country. Chris is currently a lecturer in ancient history at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney where he teaches units on the Greek City-States, the Roman Republic, Pompeii, Ancient Greek Drama, the Ancient Near East, and the History and Geography of Ancient and Modern Rome.
Saturday, 11th November 2017, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Anzac Room, Level 2, 99 York St Conference and Function Centre, Sydney CBD
Entry is free. RSVP is essential by Wednesday 8th November2017 as numbers are restricted. Call 0418 671 582 or email rsvp@militaryhistorynsw.com.au
Fate, Pre-Destination and the Mindset of Ancient and Modern Warriors
